Coio-Keeping by Farm Labourers. 
515 
improvement of a man's pecuniary and social position sliould, and generally 
does, improve the moral tone of his household. 
"The lettings of laud should be made as a reward of good conduct, and the 
applicant should cither insure his cow or show that he has more money than 
may be required to buy one." 
Some capital, though rather costly, cottages and cow-sheds 
erected by Mr. AUcroft, of Stokesay, intended for men who can 
keep two cows and perhaps a heifer, are shown in the accom- 
panying engravings (pp. 516, 517). 
" The cottage privy and pigsty are built of either brick or stone, whichever 
material is most available in the district ; if brick, with 9" solid, or 11" hollow 
walls, with a 2" cavity ; if stone, 18" solid walls. Damp course below floor 
level. Brosely tile roof, also Brosely flooring tiles used for lower rooms, 
boarded floors for bedrooms. Cottage fitted with range with oven and boiler 
in front kitchen; baking oven, copper, and sink in back kitchen, sanitary 
drains, rain-water tank with pump in back kitchen, supplied by eaves 
troughing from the roof; slats slabs or flooring tiles in cement used for milk 
benches in dairy. All materials of the best description, and the work, in- 
cluding joiners' work, finished, and the cottage fitted in a substantial and 
superior manner. The cow-house and hay-bay, &c., are built on brick or 
stone foundations, with framed and sheeted timber walls, and galvanized 
corrugated iron roof laid on boards; or timber and tiled roof; or sometimes 
the walls built altogether of brick or stone. The cow-ties fitted with proper 
boosey and cratch ; the floor pitched with pebbles. A small shed is some- 
times added at one end, for tubs, coals, tools, &c." 
The average cost of the cottage and buildings built as above 
described, the contractor finding all materials and doing the 
haulage ; not including any fencing, but inclusive of drains, 
cesspools, &c., may be taken (in Shrooshire) to be about 340/. : 
the cost of the cow-house alone about 35/. ; but these amounts 
will vary within somewhat wide limits, according to the district, 
position with reference to roads and station, and the cost on 
the site of bricks, stone, lime, sand, and other materials ; and 
in the event of there being any or all of these materials readilv 
available on the estate, and the hauling being done by the 
estate team, the contract price will be, of course, very materially 
reduced. 
While travelling in Shropshire I was unfortunately unable to 
visit Mr. Allcroft's estate at Stokesay, near Craven Arms. Mr. 
Burd writes of it, " it consists of rather less than 6000 acres. 
VVe have about 170 small holdings on it. There are about 
16 farms, and about 45 cottages are let to holders of from 2 to 3 
acres each. Several of these small tenements are let to trades- 
men useful to have on a large estate. 
" VVe have not many men keeping a cow who can be classed 
with a mere farm labourer. When a man has saved enough to 
buy a cow, he generally tries to keep himself more free than a 
" mere farm labourer " is obliged to be, if he is to secure regular 
